Women’s Health
Women’s Health
Functional lab testing is utilized to provide a comprehensive view of your body’s inner workings. Based on findings, individual protocols are used to help balance hormones and treat accompanying symptoms that result from hormonal shifts and imbalances in all stages of a woman’s life.
Fertility support
Balancing hormones and regulating cycles, addressing symptoms, and improving overall health to support and boost fertility.
PMS
As estrogen and progesterone levels begin to decline rapidly, following ovulation, about 1-2 weeks before the period starts, some women experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS can include both physical and emotional symptoms. These include: breast tenderness, changes in digestion including constipation and or diarrhea, cramping, anxiety, depression, and mood swings. A more severe form of PMS called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) can also be seen where not only the physical and emotional symptoms are more severe, duration can also last longer.
Post menstrual syndrome
Postmenstrual syndrome occurs after menstruation, while PMS happens prior and sometimes into menstruation. Symptoms are similar but include more mental and emotional impact such as brain fog, anxiety, mood swings, depression, irritability, and anger. Old lining not completely shed during menstruation leads to necrosis which leads to the release of toxins which the liver is left to filter out. Due to the extra stress of this filtration, the emotional symptoms of post menstrual disorder are increased.
PCOS
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a result of a hormonal imbalance in which elevated levels of androgens are present. This male hormone may decrease the eggs’ abilities to not fully develop and release during ovulation causing several small cysts to line the ovaries. Hyperandrogenemia is an abnormal elevation in insulin seen in PCOS which can lead to insulin resistance. Further complications of PCOS and insulin resistance may include infertility, gestational diabetes, miscarriage, metabolic syndrome, and excess body hair. Inflammation in those with PCOS can be linked back to elevated levels of androgens. An inflammatory presentation of PCOS does not typically have insulin resistance symptoms such as weight gain and excess body hair, but instead may present with inflammatory symptoms such as fatigue, IBS, headaches, joint pain, and inflammatory skin conditions like eczema.
Endometriosis
The painful condition in which endometrial lining normally only found in the uterus but is found growing outside of the uterus is known as endometriosis. Endometriosis can occur on the ovaries, the fallopian tubes and the pelvic lining but in severe cases, this lining can grow beyond the pelvic organs. This displaced tissue still responds to the cycle as it normally would, responding to the changes in hormones. This leads to the growth and breakdown of the lining but because there is no where for the lining to go, it begins to irritate the tissue and may lead to development of scar tissue. Symptoms of endometriosis include painful periods, painful bowel movements and urination, excessive bleeding, and pain elsewhere in the body during menstruation such as in the lungs. Diagnosis can be difficult and often treatment includes surgery to remove lining and adhesions.
Menopause
As women advance in age, the cessation of menstruation occurs. This can happen as early as 40 and go well into their 50’s. When menstruation no longer happens following a 12 month span, one is considered to be in menopause. Estrogen levels decline as well as other hormones that were once secreted by the ovaries. This shift in hormones can add stress to the liver and eventually may result in liver and kidney problems. Symptoms commonly seen in menopause include hot flashes night sweats, weight gain, insomnia, brain fog, and emotional ups and downs. Hormone therapy has been a treatment option for many years however HT increases the risk of endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, blood clots, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia.